San Diego, CA, April 10th, 2026 – Surf Nation is proud to announce the launch of its newest partner club, Elk Grove Surf, further expanding the organization’s national footprint, strengthening its player development pathway and creating a collaborative model in Northern California.
Effective immediately, IR Academy will transition to Elk Grove Surf, bringing the globally-recognized Surf identity to the City Elk Grove and surrounding areas. Led by experienced directors and coaches with deep ties to the community, Elk Grove Surf will continue to provide a high-quality, player-focused experience and will now have access to provide further opportunities for its players and coaching staff within the Surf Nation community, locally, regionally and nationally.
Recognized as a leader in youth football, the Surf brand is synonymous with professionalism, high-level on-field performance, comprehensive football education, and an unwavering commitment to long-term player development. Surf Nation’s mission is to create best of the best experiences and opportunities for players, coaches, and families.
“Our current clubs in Northern California have created a strong working relationship to set the standard, collaborate and create further pathways for our players and coaching staff.” Says Andy Prosser, Director of Surf Nation. “0ur clubs in the region have continued to elevate, push the needle and demand a certain level of professionalism. It was clear from early discussions that the Elk Grove Surf leadership team is excited to join our network to further expand the collaboration and cooperation within the region, specifically with the Folsom Lake Surf leadership team. We are excited to welcome Elk Grove Surf to the Surf Nation community and look forward to setting the standard of excellence.”
“As we transition from IR Academy to Elk Grove Surf we are excited to become part of Surf Nation. During all of our conversations we realized very quickly that Surf Nation is where we wanted to be.” Says Zack Masters, Executive Director Elk Grove Surf. “Their leadership, vision, player development pathways and support made this decision for our board simple. We are looking forward to working with all the partners in Surf Nation and especially with the leadership team at Folsom Lake Surf. Our goal is to foster partnerships that transcend soccer and continue to build on the standard of excellence that Surf Nation has built.”
“We are excited to welcome a new partner to our region and expand access for players and families to the growing Surf network. We look forward to a collaboration that will create more opportunities for development and exposure for players within our club and throughout the Elk Grove community. Let’s go Surf!” Says Fritz Libby, Executive Director Folsom Lake Surf
Additionally, players from Elk Grove Surf will now have direct access to Surf Select, an unprecedented identification program built through Surf Nation for players U9 through U17 at the Regional and National level. The Surf Select program draws from the Surf Network, a player pool that expands across North America with our teams competing in some of the best domestic and international events in the world of football.
This partnership marks another significant milestone in Surf Nation’s continued expansion and its commitment to building a world-class player pathway throughout the United States and beyond.
About Surf:
For over 49 years, Surf has proudly stood as a pioneer in youth soccer with a proven track record of developing players into international youth training centers, professional academies, the collegiate ranks, and professional teams around the world.
With a legacy rooted in excellence, we’ve contributed over $12 million in charitable donations, claimed more than 20+ national championships, and helped launch the careers of countless professional, collegiate, and international players. At Surf, we are driven by one goal: to be the Best of the Best both on and off the field.
Elk Grove Surf joins our 60+ Surf affiliates to comprise what we are proud to call Surf Nation.
